Dalvin Cook named as victim in domestic abuse case

Editor’s Note: This article has been updated with a subhead containing additional details.

Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook has been named as a victim in an ongoing domestic abuse and extortion case, according to a report by ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter. There’s pending litigation on the case according to Cook’s agent Zac Hill, Schefter reported.

“An incident occurred over one year ago, when a female US Military Sergeant used a stolen garage door opener to enter Cook’s home and attack a guest of Cook’s and Cook,” Schefter said in the tweet.

“Military Sergeant maced Cook directly in his eyes immediately upon illegally entering,” his agent told Schefter.

Following the incident, the female U.S. Military sergeant tried to extort Cook for millions of dollars, according to a report. She claims that she suffered injuries during the attack at Cook’s house, which she allegedly initiated.

Given that the U.S. Military sergeant entered his house illegally, Cook — and, by extension, his guest — had the right to defend themselves. Minnesota state law says that “reasonable force may be used” in specific events, one of which includes “when used by any person in lawful possession of real or personal property, or by another assisting the person in lawful possession, in resisting a trespass upon or other unlawful interference with such property.”

According to Pro Football Talk, no criminal complaints have been filed in relation to Cook’s incident.

Cook, a product of Florida State, was drafted in the second round with the 41st-overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Selected by the Minnesota Vikings, he has been the franchise’s starting running back ever since.

He’s been named to two Pro Bowls in his five-year NFL career, one in 2019 and one in 2020, and has amassed 4,215 rushing yards on his career on 884 rushing attempts. He has 35 career touchdowns, plus an additional 1,360 yards via receptions, and three receiving touchdowns.

Cook’s NFL career has seen him suffer a few injuries that kept him sidelined in Minnesota, including a torn ACL in Week 4 of the 2017 season. Following that injury, he missed the remainder of the 2017 season after amasssing just 354 rushing yards.

Through the first nine weeks of the NFL season, Cook has taken 115 rushing attempts for 554 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while adding 15 receptions for 85 receiving yards.

Formerly a five-star recruit out of Miami, Florida, Cook in 2014 committed to Florida State, where he went on to play three successful college seasons. He was twice named a first team All-ACC honoree and twice named a first team All-American, while helping the Florida State Seminoles win an ACC title in 2014.

New details of Cook’s relationship with perpetrator emerge

As it later became clear, Cook’s run-in with a trespassing civilian was not just any random person. It was a former girlfriend, according to new reports.

His former girlfriend, named Gracelyn Trimble, suffered a concussion in the incident, according to reports.

The Vikings later released a statement, saying they “recently received notification from Dalvin Cook’s legal representative regarding a situation that occurred between Dalvin and a female acquaintance in November 2020 and led to an ongoing dispute between the parties.”

The Vikings did not comment much further on Cook’s situation, opting instead to put the matter in the hands of the NFL.

“Upon learning of this, we immediately notified the NFL,” the Vikings said. “We are in the process of gathering more information and will withhold further comment at this time.”